Does rheumatic heart disease cause joint pain?

Rheumatic heart disease can cause joint pain.

Rheumatic heart disease is caused by untreated or incompletely treated rheumatic fever. When the body is infected with streptococci, the immune system releases antibodies to attack and eliminate the bacteria. But in some people, the immune response to bacterial infections is so overdone that antibodies attack tissues mistaking proteins in those tissues for foreign invaders. This mistaken autoimmune response can cause joint damage and inflammation, which can lead to joint pain, swelling, and dysfunction. In addition, the inflammatory response of the immune system releases cytokines and chemicals that stimulate nerve endings and cause pain.